Wing and like member constructed of metal for aeroplane flying machines and other aircraft



Apr. 10, 1923. 7

' V H. O. SHCRT v 'W'ING AND LIKE MEMBER CONSTRUCTED (5' METAL FOR AERO'PLANE.

'FLXI NG MACHINES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT Patented Apr. 10, 192 3.

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HUGH OSWALD SHORT, OF ROCHESTER, ENGLAND.

WING AND L IKE MEMBER CONSTRUCTED OF METAL FOR AERO PLANE FLYIMQ- MACHINES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT.

Application filed September 11, 1922. Serial No. 587,561.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be 't known that I, HUGH OSWALI) SHORT, a. subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at Norfolk Lodge, Borstal Road, Rochester, Kent, England, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wings and like Members Constructed of Metal for Aeroplane-Flying Machines and Other Aircraft, of which the following is a specification.

Metal wings and like members (hereafter termed wings) for'aeroplane flying niachines and other aircraft, are composed of a. framework which is covered above and below by a sheet metal covering. Such framework comprises metal girder structures, which are connected together in some suitable manner, and the outer covering of sheet metal is composed of a plurality of sheets which are connected together and to the frameWorkQand consequently the thin sheet metal covering spans the distance be- .tween one such girder structureof the framework and the next adjacent girder structure.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for efficiently supporting and stiffening those parts-or portions of the thin sheet metal covering which extend between one girder structure and the next, so as to resist stresses tending to buckle or bend such por'tionsof the sheet metal covering intermediate between the supporting girders or ribs, and to do this without multiplying those interior girder structures. commonly termed ribs, which extend between the interior surfaces of the sheet metal covering of the wing.

The invention further refers to the combinat-ion of the means for supporting and stiffening the sheet metal covering. with a particular construction of the supporting frame and covering of a wing to which the invention is particularly suited.

According to this invention the sheet metal covering which is fixed to the girder structures of the framework is divided between each two of said girder structures,

, the adjacent edges of said sheet metal covering at said division having flanges at right angles to its surface. Between these flanges the edge of a fin of sheet metal is interposed, the fin extending a short distance into the interior of the wing. and the flanges of the sheet metal covering at the division thereof and theedge of the said fin which is interposed between said flanges'arc then fixed together by riveting or the like.

According to the preferred construction the sheet. metal wings comprise a plurality of thinsheet metal" ribs at requisite distances apart shaped to the requisite wing section and'extending parallel with the direction of flight, spars extending through said ribs transversely to the line of flight to support said ribs, and thin sheet metal covering strips extending in the direction of the 'line of flight, each outwardly flanged at both its edges and adapted tofit between said ribs and be secured thereto to constitute the wing covering, and according to b the present invention each of said covering strips is divided between said ribs in the directionof the line of flight, said di; vided edges being outwardly flanged, and the sheet metal fins are interposed between said flanges at the divided edges of said covering strips. said fins extending. inwardly into the interior of said wing, said flanges at the divided edges of the cover-. ing strips and the'in'terposed fin being riveted together to strengthen the sheet metal covering between the ribs.

The'invention willbe described with ref-. erencc to the accompanying drawings, whereon Fig. 1 shows a vertical section of a portion of a wing taken in a plane transversely of the line of flight, the section being taken about the line X-Y of Fig.2, and Fig. 2 is a part plan view drawn to a smaller scalethan Fig. 1-.

Fig. is a detail view drawn to a larger scaie, showing a finaccording to this invention and its connection with the covering strips, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a slightly modified construction.

Referring. to Figs. 1- and 2, the wing comprises ribs 1 constructed of sheet metal,

, which are supported at the requisite dis erably outwardly as shown, and the flanges of adjacent covering strips contact with the ribs 1 atthe edges thereof, and the joint I is usually covered by a channel section strip of metal 6, the channel section strip 6, the

adjacent flanges of the strips 4 and 5, and

the edges of gether.

Intermediate between the ribs 1, the strips 4: and 5 are also flanged,.as shown for instance at 7--Fig. 3, and between the flanges 7 the rib- '1 being riveted tov the edge of a fin 8 is inserted, the fin extending'for a short distance into the interior of 7 under side of the wing.

the wing, and the jointbetween the flanges of the covering strips and 5 and'thefin is usually covered by a channel section strip 9,

and rivets pass through the channel section strip 9, through the flanges of the covering strips 4 and 5', and through the edge of the fin'8.- The end of the fin 8 which'projects into the interior of the wing may be formed p with a flange 10, extending at right angles to the fin, or with any other suitable formation. I

Instead of fitting'a channel section strip, such as 9, to cover the joint, one of the flanges such as 7% (Fig. 4) of the covering strip 4 may be extended and bent over to cover'the joint between the flanges of the strips 4 and 5 and the fin 8. i Obviously more than one fin may be between the adjacent ribs 1, and in the draw-.

ing at Fig. 1, by dotted lines, two further fins 11 are indicated, and similar fins arefitted to "the metal covering strips on the What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In Wings and the like 'members constructed of sheet metal for aeroplane flying machines and other aircraft; the combina-' t1on with a framework comprising metal,

a fin of sheet metal located between saidflanges of said covering and extending a short distance into the interior of said wing, and means for connecting together the flanges of said sheet metal covering'and the edg of said, fin interposed between same.

2. In wings and the like members .con structed of sheet metal for aeroplane flying imachlnes and otherfaircraft; -the combination with a framework comprising sheet metal ribs of the requisite wing section parallel to each other and extending parallel.

- to the line of flight, and spars extending transversely and passing through said ribs to support same; of thin sheet metal covering strips extending in the direction of the jline of flight, outwardly extending flanges v at both edges of said covering strips to fit between said ribs to constitute a wing covering, rivets to connect said adjacent flanges of adjacent covering strips and the edges of said ribs interposed between same, each of said covering strips having a division between said ribs in the direction of the line of flight, the edges of said (lIVISIODS Of said covering strips having outwardly extending-flanges, sheet metal fins interposed besaid covering strips, said fins extending in:

wardly into the interior of said wing, and;

tweensaid flanges at said divided edges of i means for fixing together said flanges at said divided edges of: said covering strips and said interposed fin to strengthen ,said

sheet metal covering'between said ribs.

3. In wings and the like members con-:

structed of sheet metal for aeroplane flying the lineof flight, and spars extending trans versely and passing through said ribs tolsupport same; of thin sheet metal coveringstrips extending in the direction of the line of flight, outwardly extending flangesv at both edges of said covering strips to fit between said ribs to constitute a wing (50v ering, rivets to connect said adjacent flange s v of adjacent covering strip's'and the-edges of said ribs interposed between same, each of said covering strips having a divislonhe tween said ribs in the direction of. the lineof flight, theqedges of said divisions of said; 1

c'overingstrips having outwardly extending flanges, sheet metal fins interposed between said'flanges at said divided edges of said; covering strips, said fins extending lnwardly,

into the interior of said wing, means for ex? ternally covering the joint between said flanges of said covering strips and said fin, and means for fixing together said flanges at said divided edges of said covering strips and said interposed fin to strengthen said sheet metal covering between said ribs.

1. In wings and the like members constructed of sheet metal for aeroplane flying machines" and other aircraft; the combination with a framework comprising sheet metal ribs of the requisite wing section parallel to each otherand extending parallel to the line of flight, and spars extending transversely and passing through said ribs to support same; of thin sheet metal covering strips extending in the direction ofthe' line of flight, outwardly extending flanges at both edges of said covering strips to fit between said ribs to constitute a wing covering, rivets to connect said adjacent flanges of adjacent covering strips and the edges of said ribs interposed between same, each of said covering strips having-a division between said ribs in the directlon of the line of flight, the edges of said divisions of said coverlng strips having outwardly extending flanges sheet metal fins interposed between said flanges at said divided edges of said covering strips, said fins extendinginwardly into the interiorof said wing, a channel section strip of sheet metal to cover the joint between said flanges ofsaid covering strips and said fin, and means for fixing together said channel section strip, said flanges at said divided edges of said covering strips.

and said interposed fin to strengthen said sheet metal covering between said ribs.

In wwltness whereof I have hereunto set -my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HUGH OSVVALD SHORT. 

